Thousands of Chrysler Workers Walk Out

Yahoo / AP ^ | 10/10/2007 | EagleUSA

[EagleUSA]

DETROIT (AP) -- Thousands of Chrysler LLC autoworkers walked off the job Wednesday after the automaker and the United Auto Workers union failed to reach a tentative contract agreement before a union-imposed deadline.

It is the first UAW strike against Chrysler since 1997, when one plant was shut down for a month, and the first strike against Chrysler during contract talks since 1985.

The UAW apparently is staying on the job at the five plants that Chrysler already had shut down this week because of sagging sales of some models, according to a person familiar with the walkout who asked not to be identified because the situation is in flux.

Brett Ward, a forklift driver at the Sterling Heights assembly plant in suburban Detroit, said he thinks a strike is justified, but he hopes the union can get a better deal than the one it reached with General Motors Corp.

"Hopefully with a strike we'll get some better gains and get a better contract in front of us," he said.

[Terirem]

Meanwhile customers are staying away from UAW products in droves.

But why are they buying products made by foreign companies who have even more radical union organizations?

[Terirem]

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/380549

Japanese auto workers reach out to U.S. union

Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 07:13 EDT

DETROIT — Japanese auto workers would like to join forces with US unions, a leader of the Confederation of Japanese Auto Workers said Tuesday. Labor leaders of both countries need a common agenda, according to Isao Yoshida, the leader of a JAW delegation touring North America.

Yoshida sidestepped a question on whether Japanese workers would assist the United Auto Workers as they try to organize U.S. workers at plants operated here by Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Yoshida said that the JAW is a member of the International Metalworkers Federation, the umbrella organization for unions representing auto workers, and believes workers should belong to unions.

[stumpy]

I once made the mistake of purchasing a chysler product. It cured me and my two sons from repeating that mistake.

[MileHi]

- I heard on the radio yesterday that the average American auto worker makes, with other benefits, about $76. per hour.

Wow. How many years of collage do you need to be a plant worker?

[SandwicheGuy]

FWIW, I lost my job (FIRED) last Nov. after almost 35 years with the company and just a mere 2 weeks before I was scheduled to get laid off along with the rest of the plant.

That sucks. My condolences. But that happens and is why we all have to take more responsiblity in our lives, we can't trust government or business to take care of us. I hope you have a soft landing.

[SandwicheGuy]

YOU: Actually, more toward them than toward you

Yeah, I figured I was a teaching vehicle but it was a good time to bump, lol, keep the faith bro’.

[KTM rider]

my dodge pickup says “made in Mexico “ on the door near the VIN

[KTM rider]

I saw on the VIN tags at the job that the only CAT product assembled in Peoria is the Wheel Loader.

IIRC

the track loaders are from France

excavators from malaysia with mitsubishi parts

and so on and so on

[Erik Latranyi]

As a business owner I will hire whomever I damn well please, or not hire.

let me clarify that...they dont hire from certain counties where all the laid off UAW workers live....

Don't get me wrong. I think employers should be allowed to hire the best qualified for the job, regardless of some "group" they may or may not belong to.

I am amazed that this would be legal in our very pro-union culture (remaining from 40 years of Democrats).

BurbankKarl clarified this as Honda only hires within a geographic area....nullifying the legal issue.

Thanks, Karl!

[bill1952]

>How many years of collage do you need to be a plant worker?

Yeah, how many years do you have to study art anyway? :)
(couldn't resist)

Collage: (From the French: coller, to stick) is regarded as a work of visual arts made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. Use of this technique made its dramatic appearance among oil paintings in the early 20th century as an art form of groundbreaking novelty.

[hillarynot]

Many of the terms GM and Chrysler are now agreeing to were implemented back in the 90’s by Caterpillar. Caterpiallar took the stance in the 90’s they were no longer to pattern bargain. Nearly 20 years later Cat is extremely profitable and not being held hostage by the Union.

To continue to captitulate to the Union only delays the inevitable and ultimately ruins the viability of the company and the local and Regional economy.

That’s where Michigan is today.

[hillarynot]

Many of the terms GM and Chrysler are now agreeing to were implemented back in the 90’s by Caterpillar. Caterpillar took the stance in the 90’s they were no longer to pattern bargain. Nearly 20 years later Cat is extremely profitable and not being held hostage by the Union.

To continue to captitulate to the Union only delays the inevitable and ultimately ruins the viability of the company and the local and Regional economy.

That’s where Michigan is today.

[MileHi]

Sorry...